FIFA World Cup: Shakira to headline final's first-ever halftime show (PTI Photo)

Madonna, BTS and Shakira to headline first World Cup final halftime show

FIFA has confirmed that Madonna, Shakira and BTS will headline the first-ever halftime show at the FIFA World Cup 2026 final at MetLife Stadium.

by · India Today

In Short

  • Chris Martin will curate FIFA's new entertainment format for the final
  • Infantino said the event links football, music and children's welfare
  • The 2026 tournament will feature 48 teams and 104 matches

FIFA confirmed on Thursday that global music icons Madonna, Shakira and K-pop supergroup BTS will headline the first-ever halftime show during the FIFA World Cup 2026 final at MetLife Stadium on July 19.

The landmark show, curated by Chris Martin, marks a significant shift in FIFA’s presentation of its showpiece event, bringing the World Cup final closer to the entertainment spectacle associated with the Super Bowl in the United States.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino announced the line-up through social media, saying the performance would unite “music, football and a shared commitment to improving the lives of children around the world”.

“The FIFA World Cup 2026 Final halftime show will be a truly special moment,” Infantino said while confirming that the event would support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative aimed at expanding access to education and football for children worldwide.

The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by United States, Canada and Mexico, will run from June 11 to July 19 and feature 48 teams for the first time. FIFA has expanded the tournament to 104 matches from the previous 64, introducing an additional knockout round.

The inclusion of a halftime concert during the final could also extend the traditional 15-minute interval, although FIFA has yet to confirm the exact duration of the break.

Halftime entertainment has long been a staple of major American sporting events, particularly the Super Bowl. Madonna previously headlined the Super Bowl halftime show in 2012, while Shakira performed alongside Jennifer Lopez in 2020.

FIFA had already experimented with the concept during last year’s Club World Cup final at MetLife Stadium, where performances from Doja Cat, J Balvin and Tems accompanied Chelsea’s victory over Paris Saint-Germain.

The 2026 edition is expected to be the biggest World Cup in history, with matches spread across venues in the United States, Canada and Mexico before culminating in the final in New Jersey.

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